Stealing vehicles has become a profitable enterprise for those who choose to engage in criminal activities. Grapevine, Texas has been grappling with this issue for years, with an average of 21 stolen vehicle reports per month from January 2023 to March of this year. However, the situation is now taking a positive turn after the authorities apprehended seven suspects believed to be part of one of the largest vehicle theft rings in Texas.
The police reported that the group of individuals specifically aimed for cars such as Dodge Chargers, Dodge Challengers, Chevrolet Corvettes, and Chevrolet Camaros. During the raid conducted on the suspects, the police also seized a Lamborghini Urus. The group is believed to be involved in the theft of approximately 200 cars, valued at around $9.3 million.
In 2023, a team of two detectives and a crime analyst embarked on a mission to track down all the stolen cars. Their hard work paid off when they finally caught a break. It seemed like a criminal had used a high-profile stolen vehicle to pull off the coordinated theft of another car.
According to CBSNews, Amanda McNew from the Grapevine Police Department reported that a vehicle was identified by their crime analyst as potentially being the same vehicle involved in another incident.
“Through extensive investigation, the authorities managed to trace a suspect vehicle, leading to a breakthrough in the case. Subsequently, the investigation gained momentum, and the police uncovered a huge operation. The single theft yielded a substantial amount of visual and physical evidence, which established the crew’s involvement in stealing vehicles worth $5-10 million in Grapevine City alone.”
Police officers carried out search warrants at two homes located in Dallas and Garland. During one of the operations, there was a suspicion that a tiger was present at the residence, but it turned out to be a false alarm. Despite this, the officers successfully apprehended their intended targets, resulting in the arrest of a total of seven individuals.
All seven suspects are now charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, and authorities anticipate further federal charges. The arrests appear to have already had a positive impact on the community. According to McNew, the Grapevine area reported no auto thefts in the month following the arrests. This success is a promising sign for all those involved and hopefully will continue.